HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3473

EXECUTIVE ORDER OF JULY 6, 1979

01.01.1979.12

WHEREAS, An acute shortage of fuel for motor vehicles
exists in the State of Maryland and in surrounding
states and in the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, A study, conducted for the Federal Energy
Administration by the Stanford Research Institute,
regarding the State energy savings from liberalization
of truck weights estimates annual savings for Maryland
at 940,000,000,000 Btu. (940 billion British thermal
units), which translates into monthly savings of
575,985 gallons of fuel consumption in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, Diesel fuel is a middle distillate petroleum
product substantially identical to #2 heating oil; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Energy in its June 8, 1979
Weekly Petroleum Status Report has estimated existing
inventories of middle distillates at levels
substantially below those minimally acceptable raising
the danger of substantial shortages of heating fuel in
the winter months; and

WHEREAS, One major supplier of motor fuel has announced a
57% cutback of Maryland's July allocation of diesel
fuel, with other similar cutbacks being reported
elsewhere in the State; and

WHEREAS, Further, the shortage of fuel may, and in some
instances has, severely limited the transport of
materials and commodities to and from Maryland citizens
and businesses, both rural and urban; and

WHEREAS, The reduction of this transportation creates
unfavorable immediate and long-term economic
consequences which would threaten the health, safety
and welfare of the people of this State; and

WHEREAS, Further, the shortage of fuel may, and in some
instances has, severely limited the transport of
materials and commodities to and from Maryland citizens
and businesses, both rural and urban; and

WHEREAS, The reduction of this transportation creates
unfavorable immediate and long-term economic
consequences which would threaten the health, safety